NEW ZEALAND LITERATURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1936, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND LITERATURE

“AUTHOR’S WEEK” OPENED

APPEAL FOR ENCOURAGEMENT

[per press association.]

WELLINGTON, April 18

An appeal to all New Zealanders to know their own country and all that appertains to it, was made by the Governor-General, to-night, when opening the exhibition arranged for Wellington, by the New Zealand branch of the Pen Club, as part of New Zealand Authors’ Week. Lord Galway said he knew of no better way of doing this than reading the books of New Zealand authors. The opening of the exhibition was attended by a distinguished gathering of New Zealand authors and enthusiasts of New Zealand literature. The President of the movement to encourage interest in the work of New Zealand authors, Sir Harold Beauchamp, presided. Sir.. Harold .said, the promoters .were certain- the- exhibitions of works by New Zealand writers would surprise the public of the Dominion, and the extent of the showing to-night, would, he was sure, fulfil their expectations. Its size and wide variety were most imposing, and it was now a fact that New Zealanders could be armed with material for patriotism other than j_hat relating to Rugby football, dairy production or even hot springs or cold lakes.

Lord Galway expressed a very sincere hope for the prosperity of the movement. He said he realised that in a young country like New Zealand, literature and art did not receive the close attention they merited, nor had all avenues open to them been explored thoroughly by authors. He had three suggestions to make to New Zealand authors. The first was that the history of whaling in New Zealand should be written before those who had been associated with it or their descendants, should die. The second was that in spite of some notable works already published, the Maori legend and folklore might receive closer attention, and the third was that careful examination could profitably be given to the history of volcanic activity. Generally, the records of this activity had been too scientific to attract the average reader. Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Prime Minister, and author of “Children of the Poor,” represented the Prime Minister. He said he wondered what constituted a New Zealand author. He supposed most of them were hewing wood or drawing water, and making just enough money from their books to keep the canary.or cat. It seemed that poverty was the hallmark of New Zealand authors. Perhaps living too close to the scene of activity was responsible for the people of New Zealand not doing justice to books about the 'Country, but it had abundant material for men and women to write about. There was plenty of stuff out of which books could be made, when people had leisure and capacity to bend the raw mateiial. He hoped the exhibition was going to be successful in making art in New Zealand financially lucrative. Rt. Rev. Herbert Williams, Bishop of Waiapu, gave a short address in which he traced the literary activity of New Zealanders from the first missionaries. He examined the qualifications of authorship and the measure of some authors.